title: Effect of autoclaving on the fracture torque of mini-implants used for orthodontic anchorage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the influence of autoclave sterilization on the fracture torque of five commercially available mini-implants used for orthodontic anchorage.
  
  
  METHODS
  In vitro laboratory study.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ten mini-implants from each of five different manufacturers were submitted to one cycle of autoclave sterilization and tested, compared to their control groups - consisting of 10 as-received mini-implants each - to assess their fracture torque values. The mini-implants, connected to a digital torque gauge perpendicularly positioned to the bone surface, were inserted into swine femoral cortical bone segments until their fracture.
  
  
  METHODS
  Maximum torque values.
  
  
  METHODS
  A two-way ANOVA to detect differences between implant products and the allocation group and one-way ANOVA with the Tukey's honestly significant difference (HSD) post hoc test among autoclaved groups and among control groups separately to detect differences between manufacturers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The effect of the autoclaving process was not significant (P = 0·411). The manufacturer factor, however, was significant (P < 0·001). The one-way ANOVA with the Tukey's HSD post hoc test results showed statistically significant differences between control groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The autoclave sterilization of the mini-implants tested in this study did not affect their resistance to fracture; however, the mini-implants from different manufacturers presented with statistically significant differences in their resistance to fracture.
authors.affiliation: Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. antonioruellas@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Claudia Trindade
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Mattos
authors.forename: Antônio Carlos
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ruellas
authors.forename: Eduardo Franzotti
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Sant'anna
mesh_terms: D000497:Alloys; D000818:Animals; D003722:Dental Alloys / Q000737:chemistry; D015921:Dental Implants; D005269:Femur / Q000601:surgery; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008422:Materials Testing; D052280:Orthodontic Anchorage Procedures / Q000295:instrumentation*; D016382:Orthodontic Appliance Design; D011897:Random Allocation; D013227:Steam; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods*; D013314:Stress, Mechanical; D013499:Surface Properties; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014025:Titanium / Q000737:chemistry; D019415:Torque
chemical_list: D000497:Alloys; D003722:Dental Alloys; D015921:Dental Implants; D013227:Steam; C031462:titanium alloy (TiAl6V4); D014025:Titanium